Breaking News: NBC Cancels "Law & Order"

There are always tough decisions made in the days leading up to Upfront Week. And I have to believe this was one of the toughest.

And even though I haven't been a fan for many, many years, it still hurts a little...

"Variety" is reporting that NBC has cancelled "Law & Order." The cancellation will prevent "L&O" from surpassing the record for TV's longest-running drama held by "Gunsmoke."

In the end, the combination of rising costs and sagging ratings did the show in. It will now conclude its 20-year-run Monday, May 24th at 10 p.m. However, the report says NBC is looking for other ways to give the show more closure.

I understand the costs and the ratings were pretty terrible, and NBC relied way too much on it over the years. But I think it deserved at least another 13 episodes to break the record. And I definitely hope it gets some better closure since its finale will be lost amongst all the attention being paid to the final hours of "24" and "Lost."

Interestingly, NBC is not out of the "L&O" business. They picked up "Law & Order: SVU" and a new spin-off called "Law & Order: Los Angeles."

NBC is announcing its full schedule to the media this Sunday.

And if they cancelled "L&O" and picked up "Heroes"...